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Verily
all praise is for Allaah, we thank Him and seek His Help and
Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of our own
selves and from the evil consequences of our bad deeds. Whomever
Allaah guides, no one can lead him astray; and whomever He
leads astray, there is no guide for him. I testify that there
is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah Alone, without
any partners; and I further testify that Muhammad is His Servant
and Messenger.
To proceed:
I had
just completed my comments and introduction to 'Allaamah
As-San'aanee's work, Raf'ul-Astaari 'an Butlaanil-Adillatil-Qaa'ileena
bi Fanaa'in-Naar (Exposing the Falsehood of Those who
say the Hellfire does not Presently Exist), and it had just
been sent off to the printer when the enthusiastic and virtuous
Zuhayr Ash-Shaawaysh made me aware of a collection of beautiful
books from the many treasures of his substantial library. Some
of the works in this collection date back to the seventh century
after Hijrah. Longing to study some of them, I wanted
to choose some meritorious writings suitable for prompt distribution.
From
them, I found a short missive called Bidaayatus-Sool fee
Tafdheelir-Rasool ( this
book ) by Al-Imaam Al-'Izz ibn 'Abdis-Salaam As-Sulamee,
the great Shaafi'ee scholar of Damascus, well known
by the title Sultaanul-'Ulamaa' (the Authoritative
Leader of the Scholars). So I devoted myself to its careful
examination and study, indeed a very precise and scrutinizing
study was needed. It then became clear to me that it was a
priceless piece of work, something to be extremely beneficial
for this Ummah for many reasons.
1
The first of these reasons is the subject itself. I firmly believe
that every truthful Muslim must acquaint himself with a proper
discussion of the amazing attributes and virtues that Allaah
bestowed upon His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
those that establish his virtue and superiority over the rest
of creation - from the Jinn and mankind alike, and even
the highest angels. This must be based on a sound study of the
many clear and firmly established evidences from the Book and
the Sunnah. This will, without a doubt, increase him in his
belief in Allaah Most High and his sincere love for the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). This love is a basic
requirement that must dwell in the heart of the believer, along
with the love of Allaah Most High, the One who gave the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) his virtue by choosing
him and sending him to us. Indeed He favored us through this,
as He Most High says [1]:
( He
is the One who sent a Messenger from amongst the illiterate,
reciting His Verses to them, purifying them, and teaching them
the Book and the Hikmah. [2]
And before that they were clearly astray. )
And
regarding this, the Prophet (sallallaah 'alayhe wa sallam)
said:
"Whoever
possesses three emotions will taste the sweetness of Faith:
That you love Allaah and His Messenger more than anything else,
that you love another person for Allaah's sake only, and for
absolutely no other reason, and that you hate returning to the
disbelief that Allaah saved you from as you would hate being
thrown into a blazing fire." [3]
So then
this love does not cease to grow in his heart until the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) becomes the most beloved
person to him, closer to his heart than his dearest friend or
relative, as the Prophet said:
"None
of you (truly)
believes until I become more beloved to him
than his parents, his children, and all of humanity."
[4]
So dear
brother in Islaam! Know that it is not possible for anyone to
reach this level of love for Allaah Most High and His Messenger
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), except by singling out
Allaah in worship and shunning what is worshipped besides Him,
and by unconditionally following only one man - the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and no one else from
Allaah's slaves. This is due to Allaah's saying [5]:
(
Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah. )
And
His statement [6]:
(
Say (O Muhammad):
"If you truly love Allaah, then follow me." )
The
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"I
swear by the One in whose Hand is my soul, if Moosaa was alive
today, he would have no choice except to follow me!"
[7]
So if Moosaa, the one whom Allaah spoke directly to, would
have no choice to follow anyone but the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam), then who would have a choice in the
matter? This hadeeth is from the clear, conclusive evidences
that prove the obligation to single out the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) as the only person to be unconditionally
followed. Following the Prophet has even been made part of
one's testimony of faith, "And I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah." So Allaah made
following the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
and only him, an outward sign of a servant's love of Allaah.
We have no doubt that if Allaah loves a person, then Allaah
will be with him throughout everything he faces, as we find
in the authentic hadeeth qudsee:
"...and
My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved
to Me than the obligations I have imposed on him. He will continue
drawing closer to Me by his performance of non-obligatory good
deeds until I love him. And when I love him, I am the hearing
that he hears with, the sight that he sees with, the hand that
he strikes with, and the leg that he walks with. If he were
to ask Me for anything, I would certainly give it to him; and
if he sought refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge."
[8]
So if
this is what makes someone beloved to Allaah, then it is obligatory
on every Muslim to seek after every action that would make
one receive Allaah's Love. So it is only following the Messenger
of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and none
else that can get one to this position. The believer has only
one specific way to gain nearness to Allaah . Don't you see
that there is no way to become aware of what actions are obligatory
and what separates them from non-obligatory good deeds, except
by following the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
alone?
It goes
without saying that every time the Muslim reads about the history
of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
he knows more and is more aware of his good manners and virtues,
and therefore his love for the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) increases, and his patronage becomes more inclusive
and extensive.
Hoping
to assist my fellow Muslims in this regard, I put forth the
effort to make corrections and footnotes to this blessed publication
and distribute it, especially when I found someone prepared
to print it. May Allaah Most High preserve the professor Zuhayr
Ash-Shaawaysh and all of us from the evils of Allaah's enemies.
My desire to help the Muslims love their Messenger was the author's
original intention in writing this book also, as is evident
in his closing, "We ask Allaah by His Grace and Generosity
to grant us success in following His Messenger (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) in all of his ways and methods, and in all
of his noble manners, both obvious and discrete. And we ask
Allaah Most High to make us from His victorious party, and to
make us from His helpers, for verily He has the Power and Capability
to answer our supplications. There is no ability or strength
except through Him, and He is the Most High, the Greatest."
In reality,
I say to you that surely my entire purpose in this life, after
fulfilling what Allaah has made obligatory on me, has been to
make the Muslims aware of the authentic accounts of the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) from every possible angle,
by teaching, lecturing, writing, all to the best of my ability,
and to encourage them to take him (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa
sallam) alone as their only flawless example, as Allaah
stresses in the Qur'aan [9]:
( Verily
you have in the Messenger of Allaah a
fine example to follow,
for whoever seeks (the meeting with)
Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. )
In
this lies their happiness and contentment in this life and
in the Hereafter...
...If
you have understood that you can not win the love of Allaah
Most High without following His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam), then be firm in your following of him, with
a devout adherence to his Sunnah. Exhaust yourself to your
capacity and do not be distracted by what some of the deluded,
ignorant soofees and heedless ones do, who turn their
Deen into frivolous playing and melodious singing,
thinking that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
would have been pleased with what they call "Islaamic
songs."
You
find this frivolity overwhelming them in their remembrance of
Allaah or their gatherings, the gatherings themselves being
innovated celebrations, like the observance of the Prophet's
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) birthday. For surely,
by Allaah, they are clearly astray, deviating far from the Truth.
How can they be rightly guided while they are mixing the Religion
of Truth with Hymns of Falsehood and they blindly follow their
insane singers in their musical dervishes? They hold so firmly
to their misguidance as it kills their hearts and prevents them
from keeping the remembrance of Allaah and reciting the Qur'aan.
And the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Whoever
does not beautify his voice with the Qur'aan is not from us."
[10]
They
even add musical instruments or clap their hands with background
singers, all of this being broadcasted on foreign radio stations,
preferring the 'Arabic speaking audience, hoping to please the
people by calling it thikr or religious songs!
And I sadly report to you that some of the Islaamic radio stations
have even begun to broadcast this foolishness, and we seek Allaah's
Assistance!
It has
even reached me that some television programs have shown segments
about this deviance, presenting it as if it is Islaam, saying
that this is the way of the Hanafee Muslims!
A long
time ago, as I used to be present at gatherings of different
groups of the Muslims, I was taken aback when I heard the athaan
being called accompanied by musical instruments! So I asked
about this and they replied, "These are a group of youth
from 'Arab countries who have arrived as guests. One of them
introduced the idea, singing the athaan along with musical instruments,
and in fact we have heard it a lot these days on Islaamic radio
stations."
What
a beautiful remark Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allaah have Mercy on him,
made:
To Allaah
we free ourselves from a people
Suffering an illness from listening to music.
And
how often we said: "O our people!
You stand at a cliff's edge with no escape,
A
cliff's edge, below it a bottomless chasm
So many have already fallen to great depths!"
We repeated
our advice to them so much
To have an excuse with Allaah regarding them.
And
when they made light of our warnings
We returned to Allaah, focused on our affair.
So we
lived upon the Sunnah of Al-Mustafaa
As they were dying upon their tan-tanaa tan-tanaa.
I then
advised some of these youths about what was wrong with this,
about their evil deviation from the Islaamic Sharee'ah.
So they switched to other songs about bravery, strength, and
Islaamic courage, but the melodious musical feel was still present,
along with a drum or other instruments.
I have
heard some of this with my own ears at some cassette shops.
So I spoke with the shopkeepers with words of advice, from that
which is obligation on us in the Religion. I reminded them that
this was not permissible, especially since many of them have
made listening to it their regular habit, and this has busied
them and distanced them from the recitation of the Qur'aan,
or at least listening to it.
All
of this corruption can only be a result of deviating from the
way of the Salaf. I say quite decisively that this was
not their custom, and we know they used to melodiously chant
poetry occasionally during times of war. That is one thing,
and to take that, adding instruments and background singing
to it, and to say that it was their custom, is an entirely different
thing altogether. That is precisely the custom of the people
of disobedience and falsehood. This has never been hidden from
the people of knowledge and investigation. May Allaah Most High
have Mercy on the one who said:
And
every good lies in the following of the Salaf,
And every evil lies in the innovations of the khalaf.
Lastly,
about the importance of this topic, I sincerely advise everyone
who reads this book to not stop after enjoying what they read,
rather they must reap the true harvest of this knowledge. That
can only be their sincere, truthful following of this great
Messenger, hoping to receive the Love of Allaah and forgiveness
for their sins, and they will receive the great success. We
ask Allaah to make us from them.
2
Secondly, this book is such a truly virtuous and exemplary piece
of work. The author, may Allaah have Mercy on him, gathered
over 40 virtues specific to our Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam). Additionally, you should know that As-Suyootee,
may Allaah have Mercy on him, included this book in his collection
called Al-Khasaa'isul-Kubraa. It consists of three volumes.
The largest one is divided into three sections: one for Al-Asbahaanee's
Dalaa'ilun-Nubuwwah, one for Al-Bayhaqee's work by the
same name, and the last one for this book. The first two, as
opposed to this book, happen to contain a lot of weak and fabricated
narrations. So verily this is an elite and outstanding work.
It does not contain, by Allaah's Grace, any narrations that
are undoubtedly weak. All the narrations in it, with a few exceptions,
are firmly established and undoubtedly authentic as will become
clear to the honorable reader from my comments on each hadeeth
in the footnotes. This book is as excellent as a book can be.
The
author, may Allaah have Mercy on him, laid out his book with
cleverly short, concise segments, especially when certain narrations
have already been widely accepted and discussed. It appears
to me that he used to recite it impromptu to his students and
quiz them about it occasionally, as was the custom of the great
scholars that preceded us, like Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
for example.
In this
book, the author brought some narrations without tracing them
to their original sources, or he would not report them in their
entirety. Sometimes he would mention where a reference for a
hadeeth could be found, and other times he would mention the
meaning of a hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) or a statement of a companion without indicating
that it was their statement.
So,
based on this, the most important thing I accomplished regarding
this book was the commentary, which consisted of verifying and
naming the sources of the narrations and bringing the remaining
portions of the incomplete ones, except for those that are extremely
lengthy. For them, it sufficed me to refer you to their sources.
The sources of the narrations are mentioned briefly, unless
the narration comes from a rare source. This was done because
I did not want to go against the concise presentation that the
author intended by making it long and extensive with detailed
footnotes, which would be the case if I mentioned the entire
hadeeth of the Intercession, for example.
With
this effort, the benefit available in this fine work has been
complemented, by Allaah's Permission. My commentary of the book
now stands an endowment, a verification of the authenticity
of the virtues of our Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam).
So all
praise is for Allaah, the One who made us from those who answered
the call of His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam).
We ask Him, Most High, to provide us with sincerity in following
his Prophet, and to gather us with him in the company of his
brothers that he wished he could have seen, as found in the
hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah, who narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"I
only wish that I could have seen our brothers."
So then
the Companions asked, "Aren't we your brothers, O Messenger
of Allaah?" To which he replied:
"Your
are my companions, our brothers are those who have not come
yet."
[11]
And
they are further described in the following hadeeth:
"Some
people who come after me will be from the strongest of my nation
in love for me, one of them would give up their families and
wealth just to see me." [12]
3
As I mentioned, all the narrations in this book are authentically
established on the Prophet [13]. This is something that very
few authors accomplished, especially with books on the subject
of virtues. Many scholars have been overly lenient in their
use of weak narrations when writing about virtues. The same
is the case for many books containing general admonitions and
warnings. My position on this approach has been made clear in
the introduction to my work on Al-Haafith Al-Munthiree's
At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, and this is not the place for such
a lengthy discussion.
But
I will say this - Verily from the negative aspects of the aforementioned
leniency in using weak narrations is the descent into passing
on fabricated and baseless traditions, either intentionally
or unintentionally. Indeed this is what takes place, and the
examples are abundant. Without taking the reader too far from
our subject, I will mention a few examples now to show the reality
of the matter... [14]
...Al-Haafith As-Suyootee, may Allaah pardon him and us, wrote
a book called Al-Khasaa'isul-Kubraa. In it, he mistakenly
included many fabricated narrations and outright lies on the
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), as well as many
weak and contradictory reports, in spite of his statement in
his introduction, "I have compiled in it everything
that was narrated, while refraining from using weak reports
or rejected ones."
Verily
that which afflicted As-Suyootee in this book was the same thing
that afflicted him in his book Al-Jaami'us-Sagheer min Hadeethil-Basheerin-Natheer.
He used not just dozens, but hundreds of weak and fabricated
narrations, after saying in the introduction, "I left
out what came by weak or fabricated reports."
In closing,
I ask Allaah to grant us and our brother Muslims success, and
grant us a solid acquaintance of the virtues of our Noble Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and the authentic accounts
about his life, to prepare us to follow him as our best example
in all our affairs. Verily Allaah is the Hearer, the One who
responds.
Glorified
you are, O Allaah, and to you is the praise! I testify that
there is no deity worthy of worship except You. I seek Your
Forgiveness and I repent to You Alone.
May
Allaah raise the rank of the illiterate Messenger, and that
of his family, and grant him security.
Muhammad
Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee [15]
This
article was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
